Eclipsepearl
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I'm an American who has been living in France for 12 years, a French citizen since 2002 and holder of both California and French driver's licenses.
Here is the information from the U.S. Embassy in Paris;
"If you are a temporary visitor to France (less than 90 days,) you may drive with a valid U.S. driver's license. In addition to having your U.S. driver's license, visitors are strongly advised to carry an International Driving permit, or attach a French translation to their U.S. driver's license.
If you are a resident of France (holder of a carte de séjour or carte de residence,) you may drive in France with a valid U.S. driver's license for a one-year recognition period, beginning on the date of validity of the first carte de séjour. After this one year period you may no longer drive with a U.S. license and must pass both the French written and road examinations. (Exceptions, persons with a U.S. license issued by one of the 14 states with reciprocity agreements (see below) and students who are allowed to use their driver's license for the duration of their studies). In addition to having your U.S. driver's license, residents are also required to attach a French translation done by a sworn translator (traducteur expert-juré) or an International Driver's license. Students are allowed to use their drivers’ licenses for the duration of their studies."
So to clear up some of the misunderstandings above;
1. New York is NOT one of the 14 states with reciprocol agreements so welcome to the club ;)
They are; Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
No, you cannot go to one of those states after your first Carte de Séjour has been issued. The acceptable license has to be obtained befroe your arrival in France.
2. There is no such thing as a U.S. "international license". In the U.S., they're issued by state, not nationally. You can get an international license but this will only act as a *translation* of your current N.Y. license. You will not gain any additional priveliges.
Like the quote above said, you have to have your license officially translated. Please make sure they charge you the "document", not the "text" rate. Some get burned by this so ask so they know you know!
3. You need to pass your test within a year, both written and practical. The written "code" can be done in translation but this limits the times you can take it as it is not given that often. If your French is even passable, trust me, you can do it in that language. Present tense, easy sentences, kind of obvious... If you are an experienced driver, it wont give you any problems.
Buy the DVD and practice at home.
4. You must take the driving test on stick. No, that's not true! You can take it on automatic but it's just as expensive and means you wont be able to drive the majority of cars in France since they're mostly stick. Sure, you can buy automatic but what to do when your car is in the shop? More below;
4. You have to sign up with a driving school. If not, you need to get a hold of a dual control car somehow so good luck without a school (friend who runs a French driving school??).
If you opt for automatic, that's even more difficult to find and you then have to schedule all lessons around availability of probably that one car. It's hard enough to schedule in the first place!
If you really, really don't speak French, here is a driving school that will help you take everything in English;
Fehrenbach International Driving School
53, boulevard Henri-Sellier
92150 Suresnes
01 45 06 31 17
01 47 28 81 89
fehrenbachinternationaldrivingschool@w...
It's one of the "close suburbs" right on the edge of Paris. When I inquired, it was expensive so please only go to them if your French is nil.
I actually was really burned by this because although I already spoke French, I arrived in France as an expat with my company THEN met a Frenchman and stayed. I didn't even meet him until after a year so I found myself newly married, outside of Paris, needing a car and not being a stick driver originally, starting almost from scratch.
Just a couple of hints;
On the highway, wait for a space to open and *then* put on your blinker. Make the move almost immediately. The other drivers will be waiting for you to go. Same goes if you see another car with it's turn signal on. They are going to come over, like it or not. Be prepared.
When slowing down to a stop, do not put your car in neutral! You will fail the test. Come down to second to stop.
Watch out for those yellow arrows. They're at the bottom of lights and you can proceed with caution (usually because of pedistrians and bikes so watch out). I live near the border and we get all the tourists with foreign plates getting honked at when at reds.
Double check on this but if you are already a license holder, you do NOT have to put that pesky "A" on the back of your car for two years after passing the test as new drivers usually have to do. We call it the "Scarlet Letter" and it also means speed limitations. Make sure that allowance is still valid. It's the only break we get!
It's expensive so talk to your company about reimbursements if you are an expat. We're talking up to 1000 Euros to do the whole thing. The good news is that a French license is almost universally recognized and probably, you wont ever have to get another license wherever you're ever sent.
Do NOT listen to our fellow Americans who will say "Oh you don't really need it..." The police actually could car less. If you're stopped, don't sweat it. It's the insurance that will be null and void if you're in an accident so don't risk it. Get working on your license and good luck! |
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